I'm into Trance because of German producers Cosmic Gate and ATB. Those fat kicks, enormous pumping off beat basslines were really something!
Still are, the old ones, haha.
I was going real crazy for the Cosmic Gate Rhythm & Drums album, loved the raw power of it. It was very impressive for the 10 year old me!
Not going to lie, still love that album.
Today, I'd say that kind of approach migrated to the modern German Techno scene, but it's not the same of course.
German Hard Trance sound was proper around 2000-2004. ATB was the more mainstream catchy stuff that dominated most parties at that time. Enjoyed that too.
So yeah, Germany for me!
Very close second place goes to the UK. Amazing deep, dark, melodic, balearic, there's everything really.
The UK guys are great in doing long journey sets,
going down the deep hole.
Many amazing J00F sets, Solarstone as well.